Free Education For The Best Students In Croatia

Education Minister Primorac announced that students who have a certain amount of ECTS points would have free education.

ZAGREB, CROATIA -  Croatian Minister of Science, Education and Sport Dragan Primorac said that the 2010/2011 academic year would have a legal solution according to which students who have a certain amount of ECTS points according to the Bologna model will have the right to free education in its entirety.

A work group will start its work and the law will be finalised by the 2010/2011 academic year, Primorac said on Tuesday.

- The best students are in question and this is the civilization step forward in Croatia. WE are talking about 80 or 90 percent of students, all who will get free education . the minister said, adding that the main criteria would be ECTS points, which is the absolute standard according to the minister.

He pointed out that this raises the issue of students who do not meet their terms and do not have the required amount of ECTS points. Primorac believes that these students should be protected, because, for instance, they lose their right to study in the West.

Mentioning the announced strike in schools, the minister said that he agrees that the teachers are under-paid, however, he added, once the economic situation is stabilised, those who are the foundation of the system`s development would be the priority – teachers, professors and scientists.

- There is no money at the moment, and the first chance we get, we will make sure that the salaries are raised – the minister said.